LTA Excellence Award 2018 Sharon Drucker, Jeffrey & Amy Hansell, Renee, Christina, Donna, Yolanda, Tanya

St. Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention Commission, Jeffrey and Amy Hansell win Louey Awards

 

MANDEVILLE, January 24, 2018 – At its Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon in Lafayette yesterday, The Louisiana Travel Association (formerly LTPA) presented the 2018 Louey Awards to honor and showcase individuals and organizations which have made outstanding contributions to the Louisiana tourism industry, and both the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission and Jeffrey and Amy Hansell of Oxlot 9/Smoke BBQ in Covington were recognized. Nominations were received from all over the state of Louisiana, and awards were presented onstage by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Jill Kidder, President/CEO of LTA.  

The St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission was recognized for Tourism Campaign/Promotion of the Year for its advertising, marketing and re-branding campaign promoting the culinary scene in St. Tammany as the “Tammany Taste.” The comprehensive media campaign included digital, social, television, print, and public relations components reaching a total of 6,998,580 potential visitors to St. Tammany Parish to date.

Of the award, President and CEO of the Tourist Commission Donna O’ Daniels said, “We are thrilled to once again be recognized for excellence in marketing Northshore tourism.  Our team works tirelessly to ensure that our marketing is data-driven, innovative and captures the imagination of potential visitors.  The Louey Award is a validation from our peers that our efforts represent the very best in the industry.  I am incredibly proud of our team and their contributions to help us realize our mission to increase the economic impact of tourism in St. Tammany.”

Jeffrey and Amy Hansell of Oxlot 9 and Smoke BBQ were awarded Restaurateurs of the Year for understanding the importance of the tourism industry and for outstanding tourism marketing, promotional campaigns and visitor experience.

About the Louey Awards: Nominations were received from members of the Louisiana Travel Association; Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus; the Louisiana Hotel & Lodging Association; the Louisiana Restaurant Association; Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Louisiana Bed and Breakfast Association; Louisiana Campground Owners Association; Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board; Louisiana Festival Association and the Louisiana Museum Association. A panel of out-of-state judges appointed by the Louisiana Travel Association reviewed the nominations.

About the St. Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention Commission: Founded in 1976 to market and promote St. Tammany Parish as a destination for visitors and thereby increase the economic impact of tourism. The St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission offers marketing services, including media outreach and website and visitor guide listings; family reunion consulting; group tour planning and assistance, social media promotion and more free of charge to tourism-related businesses and events in St. Tammany Parish.